RSEConUK 2019

RSE perform a complex mix of research and service provision that has to fit into career paths in academia. This University has developed and implemented a career pathway tailored to RSE as part of its Digital Research Strategy. A new team was formed in 2018 by merging and expanding existing RSE-like structures into a dedicated support facility outside academic structures of faculties and schools. Job profiles reflecting a professional services-style of working in a research context were created. These start at Trainee Level (Digital Research Graduate Programme), from where role holders can progress to become established RSE team members (Digital Research Scientist). A set of senior role profiles allows further progression with a focus on managerial (Digital Research Service Team Leader), academic and research-driven (Senior Research Data Scientist), or professional services (Senior Digital Research Scientist) responsibilities. A senior management role with strategic responsibilities (Head of Digital Research Service) leads the team and reports to the director of the Digital Research division. As far as we know, this University is the first to incorporate a career path that recognises distinct characteristics of RSE roles.